Clapprood takes oath as Springfield’s new police commissioner

Oct. 15, 2019 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood took the oath of office administered by Springfield City Clerk Tasheena Davis and Judge John M. Payne Jr.
Reminder Publishing photo by G. Michael Dobbs

SPRINGFIELD – A 40-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department became only the second woman to lead the department on Oct. 8 and the first female commissioner.

Cheryl Clapprood took the oath of office and became the permanent commissioner of police, rather than the acting commissioner, a role she has filled since the retirement of Commissioner John Barbieri in February.    

There was standing room only in the Mahogany Room of Symphony Hall for the event. Besides family and friends, a number of city officials and members of law enforcement attended the event.

Mayor Domenic Sarno, said of Clapprood, “She rose through the ranks and gained the respect of the women and men in blue.”

He added, “She’s tough but fair” and said Clapprood “loves to be out with the public.”

District Attorney Anthony Gullini praised her for the courage she has shown in her career. Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi noted that Clapprood represents “home-grown talent” and that “change comes from within.”

A personal observation was provided by USAF Capt. Joel Soto who said he has know Clapprood since he was a child in Springfield and attended a youth baseball program Clapprood led.  

He noted Clapprood’s attention to him helped him reach his goals.

“She believed in me and saw something in me I didn’t see,” Soto said.

Noting three of her predecessors were in the audience – Commissioner William Fitchet and former Police Chief Tomas Fitzgerald and Deputy Chief Daniel Spellacy – Clapprood said, those three men taught her how to lead and thanked them for mentoring her.

She said, “You can not rule by force. You cannot be liked by everyone. What I try to strive for from my coaching days is to be respected, to be fair.”

She thanked and praised her command staff as well as the rank and file officers of the department, whom she called “hard working” and “productive.”

Her contract is for four years and she joked, “Can we let the honeymoon continue for the next four years?”

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